The Raven Way

The Raven Way is a movement at Decker Middle School that is designed to set our students on the path to success in all areas of their lives. Here is the foundation it is built on:

  • Students First: Keeping students’ best interests first in everything that we do is impart why we are educators. Students must be first in all that we do in order to have an upward trajectory as a campus in all aspects of education.

  • Relationships: Building strong relationships with our students and our parents will provide students with a platform where they can grow not only academically, but also socially and emotionally. Not only do we build strong relationships but we also believe in repairing relationships through restorative practices.

  • Belonging: We firmly believe that if we can help our students identify and grow strongly in their strengths and interests, we can set their feet on the path to achievement. We want 100% of our students to feel a sense of belonging at DMS. Every student should feel that they belong at our school no matter what their background is.

  • College and Career Readiness: DMS is an AVID National Demonstration School. AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a college readiness system that we use schoolwide in order to prepare our students for what is ahead beyond middle school. Students create academic goals and track their own progress throughout the year.

  • The Arts: DMS is also a fine arts academy. We believe that students can use the arts to thrive. We integrate art throughout the school not just in the fine arts classes, but also in other classes across the campus.

  • Culture and Climate: We truly believe that “culture trumps strategy”. We are constantly working on our culture so that our campus is always a great place to be. We also understand that climate is the way people feel. We want our students, staff, parents and other stakeholders to feel good when they walk into our school. We must be intentional on how we treat each other as well as the systems we have in place in order to be a great school!

If we can ensure that all students, parents, staff members and other stakeholders understand and take ownership of the Raven Way, our students will be well on their way to social and emotional growth and academic achievement!

Keeping students first + Building strong, lasting relationships + Every student having a sense of belonging + Equipping students with the skills to be academically successful + a strong culture and climate = increasing their belief in themselves= closing the achievement gap

El Camino del Cuervo

El “Camino del Cuervo” es un movimiento en la Escuela Secundaria Decker que está diseñado para poner a nuestros estudiantes en el camino hacia el éxito en todas las áreas de sus vidas. Aquí está es la fundación sobre la que se basa:

·Estudiantes Primero: manteniendo los mejores intereses de los estudiantes primero en todo lo que hacemos es impartir por qué somos educadores. Los estudiantes deben ser los primeros en todo lo que hacemos para tener una trayectoria ascendente como una escuela en todos los aspectos de la educación.

·Relaciones: Construir relaciones sólidas con nuestros estudiantes y nuestros padres provee a los estudiantes una plataforma donde puedan crecer no solo académicamente, sino también social y emocionalmente. No solo construimos relaciones sólidas, sino que también creemos en la reparación de relaciones a través de prácticas restaurativas.

·Pertenencia: Creemos firmemente que, si podemos ayudar a nuestros estudiantes a identificar y crecer fuertemente en sus fortalezas e intereses, podemos poner sus pies en el camino hacia el logro. Queremos que el 100% de nuestros estudiantes tengan un sentido de pertenencia en DMS. Todos los estudiantes deben sentir que pertenecen a nuestra escuela sin importar sus origines o creencias.

·Preparación universitaria y profesional: DMS es una escuela de demostración nacional AVID. AVID (Avance por Determinación Individual) es un sistema de preparación para la universidad que usamos en toda la escuela para preparar a nuestros estudiantes para lo que está por venir más allá de la escuela intermedia. Los estudiantes crean objetivos académicos y siguen su propio progreso durante todo el año.

·Los Artes: DMS es también una academia de artes. Creemos que los estudiantes pueden usar las artes para prosperar. Integramos el arte en toda la escuela, no solo en las clases de artes, sino también en otras clases en todo el campus.

·Cultura y clima: Realmente creemos que la "cultura triunfa sobre la estrategia". Trabajamos constantemente en nuestra cultura para que nuestro campus sea siempre un excelente lugar para estar. También entendemos que el clima es la forma en que las personas se sienten seguros. Queremos que nuestros estudiantes, personal, padres y otras partes interesadas se sientan bien cuando entren a nuestra escuela. ¡Debemos ser intencionales sobre cómo nos tratamos, así como los sistemas que tenemos para ser una gran escuela!

Si podemos asegurarnos de que todos los estudiantes, padres, miembros del personal y otras partes interesadas entiendan y se apropien al “Camino del Cuervo”, ¡nuestros estudiantes estarán en camino hacia el crecimiento social y emocional y el logro académico!

Manteniendo a los estudiantes primero + Construir relaciones fuertes y duraderas + Todos los estudiantes tienen un sentido de pertenencia + Equipar a los estudiantes con las habilidades para tener éxito académico + la cultura y un clima fuertes = aumentar su creencia en sí mismos = cerrar la brecha de rendimiento​

About Fine Arts Academies

Elementary Campuses Offer:

Music K - 5

    • General Music (during school)

    • Classical Guitar for 4th and 5th (during and after school)

    • After school choir for 3rd through 5th grade

Art K - 5

    • Visual art during school

    • After school Art Club for students (painting, drawing, ceramics, etc)

Dance for K-5

    • Dance during the day

    • After school dance academy team (by audition)

    • Offering Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, and Hip Hop

Gymnastics K - 5

    • After school only for students to learn the fundamentals of tumbling

Middle School Fine Arts Academy Offer:

Jazz Band 7th and 8th grade

    • Concert and Symphonic bands for UIL

    • Pep Band that performs at campus, community, and sporting events 7th and 8th grade

Choir 6th - 8th grade

    • Concert Choirs for UIL

    • Show Choir

    • Mens, Womens, and Mixed Choirs

    • Campus, district, and community performances

Orchestra 6th - 8th grade

    • Concert Orchestra for UIL

    • Campus, district, and community performances

Classical Guitar 6th - 8th grade

    • Classical Guitar ensemble that performs at many campus, community, and district events.

Theatre Arts 6th - 8th grade

    • Drama Club

    • One Act Play for UIL

    • Performances on campus, and other venues to showcase the world of drama to the community

Visual Art 6th - 8th grade

    • After school art club

    • UIL contest and exhibitions hosted throughout the year to showcase the many talents of these students

Dance 6th - 8th grade

    • After school dance team (by audition)

    • Styles: Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop etc…

    • Dance program performs on campus, community events, competitions, and district events

Band 6th - 8th grade

Participating Schools:

  • Decker Middle School

  • Decker Elementary School

  • Oak Meadows Elementary School

Bell Schedule

22-23 DMS Bell Schedules

Campus Improvement Plan 22/23

Plan without Notes & Addendums.pdf